awful sorry. I hope you'll
forgive me. 'Twan't any way for a feller like me to talk--to you."

Captain Sam's big hand fell upon his friend's knee with a stinging
slap. "You're wrong there, Jed," he declared, with emphasis.
"'Twas just the way for you to talk to me. I needed it; and," with
another chuckle, "I got it, too, didn't I? Ho, ho!"

"Sam, I snum, I--"

"Sshh! You're goin' to say you're sorry again; I can see it in
your eye. Well, don't you do it. You told me to go home and
think, Jed, and those were just the orders I needed. I did go home
and I did think. . . . Humph! Thinkin's a kind of upsettin' job
sometimes, ain't it, especially when you sit right down and think
about yourself, what you are compared to what you think you are.
Ever think about yourself that way, Jed?"

It was a moment before Jed answered. Then all he said was, "Yes."

"I mean have you done it lately? Just given yourself right up to
doin' it?"

Jed sighed. "Ye-es," he drawled. "I shouldn't wonder if I had,
Sam."

"Well, probably 'twan't as disturbin' a job with you as 'twas for
me. You didn't have as high a horse to climb down off of. I
thought and thought and thought and the more I thought the meaner
the way I'd acted and talked to Maud seemed to me. I liked
Charlie; I'd gone around this county for months braggin' about what
a smart, able chap he was. As I told you once I'd rather have had
her marry him than anybody else I know. And I had to give in that
the way he'd behaved--his goin' off and enlistin', settlin' that
before he asked her or spoke to me, was a square, manly thing to
do. The only thing I had against him was that Middleford mess.
And I believe he's a GOOD boy in spite of it."

"He is, Sam. That Middleford trouble wan't all his fault, by any
means!"

"I know. He told me this mornin'. Well, then, if he and Maud love
each other, thinks I, what right have I to say they shan't be
happy, especially as they're both willin' to wait? Why should I
say he can't at least have his chance to make good? Nigh's I could
make out the only reason was my pride and the big plans I'd made
for my girl. I came out of my thinkin' spell with my mind made up
that what ailed me was selfishness and pride. So I talked it over
with her last night and with Charlie to-day. The boy shall have
his chance. Both of 'em shall have their chance, Jed. They're
happy and--well, I feel consider'ble better myself. All else ther